rink![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Ice surface on which a hockey game is played; a game consists of three 20-minute periods with two 15-minute intermissions.
glass protector ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Reinforced glass panel that is mounted on top of the boards to protect spectators from high shots and players’ sticks.
goalkeeper ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Player whose role is to prevent the puck from entering the goal; the goalkeeper usually plays the entire game.
goal line ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Red line that the puck must cross for a goal to be scored; the red line also marks the icing line.
face-off spot ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Each of the spots where a referee or linesman drops the puck to put it in play.
face-off circle ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Circle around each of the five face-off spots; two players line up on each side of this spot for a face-off while the other players remain outside the circle.
left defense ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Position to the left of the center and behind the wing; this player tries to prevent the opponent from approaching the goal.
boards ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Wooden or fiberglass boards that surround the rink and delimit the playing area.
players’ bench ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Bench used by the coaches and by inactive players; each team has about 20 players but only six are on the ice at the same time.
right defense ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Position to the right of the center and behind the wing; this player tries to prevent the opponent from approaching the goal.
rink corner ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The four rounded corners of the rink where body checks are often thrown.
goal judge ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Off-ice official who is positioned at the end of the rink behind the goal; the goal judge turns on a red light when the puck crosses the goal line.
assistant coach ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Person who assists the coach; there are usually two assistant coaches behind the bench, one in charge of the offense and the other in charge of the defense.
coach ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The team’s leader; the coach plots strategy and decides who plays in different situations.
goal lights ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The red light signals a goal while the green light, which is connected to the official time clock, signals a stoppage in play or the end of a period.
penalty bench official ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who is responsible for maintaining order on the penalty bench.
neutral zone ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Area between the two blue lines where player changes are made and where various offensive and defensive strategies are initiated.
left wing ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Offensive position to the left of the center; this player’s role is to score goals and to check the opposing left wing.
penalty bench ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Bench reserved for penalized players; penalties vary between two and 10 minutes, depending on the seriousness of the infraction.
officials’ bench ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Bench reserved for some of the off-ice officials (timekeeper and penalty keeper, scorer, announcer).
center ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Player who usually takes the face-offs; a key player on a team, the center plays an offensive and a defensive role.
goal ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Cage formed of netting mounted on a metal frame; a team scores a goal each time it lodges the puck inside the opposing goal.
goal crease ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Semicircle reserved for the goalkeeper; the referee disallows a goal if a player interferes with the goalkeeper inside the goal crease.
blue line ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Two lines that divide the rink into three equal parts; an offside is called when a player crosses the opposing blue line before the puck.
referee ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who is responsible for applying the rules; the referee, who wears a red armband, officiates and drops the puck for face-offs at the start of a period.
center line ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Line that divides the rink into two zones, one for each team; teams change zones after each period.
right wing ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Offensive position to the right of the center; this player’s role is to score goals and to check the opposing right wing.
linesman ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
One of two officials who signal offsides and icings; they do most of the face-offs and also signal infractions to the referee.
puck ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Black disk that is made of hard rubber; the puck is refrigerated before a game to improve its sliding action and reduce bouncing.